Parish Nurse Ministry

 

Mission: To expand within the congregation Jesus’ ministry of healing   body, mind, and spirit. The program is a vital part of the congregation’s pastoral ministry as the parish nurse, clergy, and pastoral care team minister to members of the congregation with health-related needs.

HOW THE PARISH NURSE MINISTRY CAN ASSIST YOU!

 

What is a Parish Nurse?

A Parish Nurse is a registered professional nurse who works in partnership with the Church Minister, the Health Committee, and the Pastoral Care Team to provide health promotion and illness prevention, nursing, and counselling services across life’s stages in response to the needs of the congregation. The Parish Nurse Ministry approaches health care in a holistic manner, encompassing body, mind and spirit. The Parish Nurse integrates the relationship between faith/spirituality and health in all activities by promotion and understanding of the relationship between values, beliefs, behaviours and well being.

 

    What are the roles of the Parish Nurse?

 

               Health Educator
               Health Advocate
               Personal Health Counsellor 
               Referral agent
               Coordinator/teacher of volunteers 
               Develops support groups
               Integrates spirituality and health within the parish community

 

What does a Parish Nurse do?

 

Health Educator - providing workshops/seminars, assessing health needs, counselling
Health Advocate - to ensure appropriate care for family members
Referral agent - provides community resources for example, physicians, self-help, community agencies, hospitals
Coordinator of volunteers - works closely with Health Committee and Pastoral Care Team monitoring healthcare issues pertaining to parishioners
Develops support groups, for example, grief and bereavement group
 Integrates spirituality and health within the parish community during home and office visits and assists with prioritizing reachable goals when dealing with life transitions and challenges (loss, illness, crises) through consultation, assessment and planning.

 

CALL THE PARISH NURSE IF YOU:

 - don’t understand something your doctor has told you
 - have questions about a medication or a medical procedure
 - if you or a family member are sick
 - are concerned about your children or parents 
 - are lonely
 - are feeling overwhelmed 
 - are going to have surgery
 - are dealing with the loss of a loved one or a family pet
 - are struggling in a relationship to find a program to help children of divorce
     live with a chronic health issue
 -  if you need someone to listen to you or are dealing with the loss of health

     for example, hearing or vision deficit
 - healthcare resources - are needing to contact someone about a walker to

    assist  your mobility
 - are wanting to talk and debrief after some traumatic or shocking news
 - want an opinion on home safety and accident prevention
 - want to discuss your decision to move to a retirement dwelling or long -

    term care facility
 - if a child is using drugs 
 - need support for healthy lifestyle change for example, quitting smoking or
    caregiver support

 

LET’S TALK!

Jeanette Rooney-Ozols, R.N., M.Ed., CCC
Parish Nurse, Carleton Memorial United Church